Chapter Twenty-Nine
Reclamation
The ship is calm come morning, and come the next week, so are its people.
Days of negotiations with the Ai have yielded a repaired Black Whale, an interspecies allyship, and a new government over Kakin.
The queens will oversee each of the seven provinces of Kakin, and allow more power to the common people as they choose a parliament. More aid will be sent to the poorer classes of Kakin.
As for the princes, Unma has regained custody of her two sons. Their rehabilitation will be a lengthy process, but the loss of their nen provides the first queen with hope. For now, the less power Benjamin and Tserriednich have, the better. Perhaps, she wonders, too much power from birth was detrimental to their development. Perhaps the opposite can save them.
The Ai, meanwhile, have escorted the surviving princes to the Continent, where their Guardian Beasts are freed from their hosts.
Woble waves to hers, and though Oito can't see the Ais' smiles, she feels them. Some princes look relieved; others sad.
Either way, their auras are now free, and their beasts now have their own sustainable auras.
It's good.
Prince Tubeppa and several scientists remain on the continent when the princes return. Their mission is to scout out the Pap threat, with help from the Ai, as well as cultural understanding.
Upon their arrival back in Kakin, the queens have agreed to send assistane to the Ai in their fight against Pap. And they will not broadcast the Ai's vulnerability.
"I think," Queen Oito says as the Ai place her and Woble back on the deck of the Black Whale, "there's cause to hope future generations won't be punished for their parents' folly."
"I think you'll be a good queen." Phinks has been waiting on deck since the royal family left. Just for her return. He looks at his feet. He smiles down at her.
Oito tosses her head and strides off, Phinks on her heels. She hoists Woble up on her waist. "Actually…that was the last thing we discussed yesterday. Queendom. I'd rather not. I trust the seven wives in my place."
"What are you s-saying?" Phinks stammers.
Oito stops to squint at the shoreline, at her stepdaughter and citizens behind. The yellow sun is just beginning to fade to orange, and the clouds are tinged with the grey of the approaching sunset. "I'm saying I'd rather be with you."
"Huh?" Phink's mouth drops.
"We all know your Troupe won't be murdering willy-nilly after this, anyhow." Oito spins around to wink at him. "I wouldn't let you."
"We're dangerous –"
"More dangerous than Kakin? Woble will experience a family, with people who care for her. She'll grow up seeing people from all over the world, from all kinds of cultures and backgrounds. That's what I want for her." Oito smiles up at him. "She'll learn to appreciate life."
"But we don't." Phinks' voice breaks. He – he's a murderer. A robber. And she's a queen.
"You'll be learning alongside us." Oito holds out her hand. "Am I right?"
"We're poor." Phinks isn't sure where his self-sabotage is coming from. Fear, maybe.
"I can handle poor." Oito steps closer. "And you know I'm intrigued by tattoos."
"Your manipulation would be useful," Phinks admits. Because it's easier to be practical than to tackle feelings.
Oito shields her eyes from the setting sun. "When I met Nasubi, I merely felt flattered that I was important enough to turn the king's head. When I met you, I felt the importance of other people."
Phinks hardly dares to breathe. What else can he say? "I – feel the same way, Oito."
Her name is soft to speak.
Phinks wastes no time scooping Oito and Woble in his arms. He presses his lips against hers, and wonders if this is what he's been searching for his entire life.
"Miss Nanika." Chrollo Lucilfer has enjoyed his Ai powers for a full week, which was far longer than he expected. But the Ai have been using Alluka's translation services all week, so it made sense to keep Nanika out of Alluka. Though why Nanika couldn't just sleep – or why the Ai seemed disgusted by her 'materialism' – confused him.
And, to be honest, Illumi seems to be enjoying his freed sibling. But now he and the other Zoldycks – including Hisoka, and Gon as an 'honorary brother,' are here to see Alluka and Nanika reunited.
Chrollo turns to the weak Ai clinging to Alluka's hand. He opens his book and tears out the page. "Here you go."
Nanika squeals with delight as she reaches for it.
He gasps as the power leaves him. Kurapika slides an arm around his waist.
Kurapika, who showed no fear when he saw his former enemy endowed with powers far beyond a human's nen. Because Kurapika, somewhere, no longer thinks Chrollo is a villain, and Chrollo craves every instance of reassurance, of forgiveness.
"I'm not that weak as a human," he teases, leaning against Kurapika anyways.
"I know. I wanted an excuse," says Kurapika, his face tinged with pink.
"Me too," Chrollo says slyly, turning Kurapika's face the color of the sunset.
Before them, Alluka smiles serenely as Nanika re-possesses her body.
Ai, ai, ai, ai.
Black-eyed Nanika gasps, and blue-eyed Alluka emerges again to clap her hands.
"What is happening?" Illumi looks from his sister to the other Ai.
"They're glad I came back, and lived a week as an Ai again," Nanika says quietly, taking over. "So they're going to grant the four people who tried to save me a wish."
"I believe only Beyond succeeded," says Kurapika instantly, glancing towards Chrollo.
Chrollo points to him. He mouths the word 'masochist.'
"Ai like abstract concepts like intent," says Alluka.
"Brother Hisoka? What do you want?" Nanika peers at him.
"Uhhh…" Hisoka is taken aback. Ooh, the possibilities.
"You know what you need," Illumi says matter-of-factly.
"It's not beating Chrollo? Or would that be cheating?" Hisoka taps his chin, drawing glares from the entire Phantom Troupe behind him. Including Illumi.
"Okay, fine." Hisoka removes his texture surprise, showing his missing limbs. Illumi, bless his soul, refuses to help him stand, because he knows Hisoka would hate that. "I'd kinda like four limbs again."
Nanika totters forward and grabs Hisoka. Other Ai join her, and with a burst of energy, Hisoka finds himself whole again.
"Yay," Phinks says sarcastically.
Hisoka stretches his legs. "They're somehow sexier when they're real."
"Don't make the Ai more suspicious of humans and ruin our treaty," scolds Oito.
Ah, yes, the newest Troupe member. Not even tattooed yet. No longer a queen. Hisoka sticks his tongue out at her.
"Mr. Chrollo?" Nanika turns next to the leader of the Spiders.
Chrollo looks thoughtful. This is – not enough time. To decide. And yet, he has to ask. He has to try. "What are the limits of your power?"
"We can't change the past, including bringing back the dead." Nanika smiles.
Sorrow crosses Chrollo's face. He won't be able to save Uvo, Paku, Shalnark, or Kortopi. He won't be able to save Kurapika's clan. Although…at least he won't have to potentially choose between the two.
"Paku would be happy that you so much as thought of them," says Machi.
Chrollo smiles. "She would, wouldn't she?"
That settles it. He turns to Kurapika. "I can't change the past. But I can fix the future."
"What are you talking about?" Kurapika eyes him.
"His specialist state drains hours off his life. Can you restore them?" Chrollo fixes his eyes on Kurapika.
"Don't you dare!" Kurapika shakes his head. He cringes at several accusing looks, from Ai to the Troupe to especially Killua and Gon. "I chose it!"
"You deserve to live a full life, Kurapika." Chrollo stops before finishing the sentence how he really wants to: with me.
"Ai." Nanika waves her hand, and Kurapika feels lighter.
Kurapika doubles over. "Chrollo – you – you are – "
"Your friend? And more." Chrollo lifts Kurapika's face to look into his eyes.
Kurapika's throat hurts with the tears he's holding back. How can he use his wish on himself now?
He's not going to die soon.
How – how does he live from here?
His voice shakes. "Nanika – I want – Melody has been with me since Yorknew City. I want to give Melody her heart's desire."
Melody gasps, and almost immediately, four sheets of parchment appear before her.
"What are those?" Chrollo asks with interest.
"The Sonata of Darkness."
"It's real?" He looks far, far too tempted, and hates himself for it.
But Kurapika's face is accusatory, or disappointed. He understands Chrollo's curiosity, and yet gently holds him back.
In response, Melody yanks aside her sleeve to reveal a rotted, mangled arm. Nobunaga curses as she draws a match and drops it. The parchments ignite, and as they burn, Melody's arm begins to heal.
Her hair grows back across her head in a blaze of grey – a soft grey the color of the sunset clouds above them – and her front teeth begin to shrink.
The curvy, beautiful woman before them is the same height, and wearing the same clothes as her former self, but she looks otherwise transformed.
"Hot damn," Mizaistom mutters. Nobunaga's face flushes.
"Thank you, Kurapika, friend," says Melody with a serene smile. Her voice is as fluid and melancholy as ever. Perhaps more so.
"You don't feel like I cheated your hunt, right?" Kurapika asks nervously.
"It's not cheating to rely on friends," Melody says pointedly, nodding to Chrollo.
He doesn't bother to conceal his smile.
"Now: Beyond." Nanika turns to him at last.
Beyond, at least, seems ready. "I want for nothing, save one thing."
He bends down and whispers in the Zoldyck child's ear.
Alluka pulls back with a gasp. She spins around and around in ecstasy. "We can do it! Like we always planned!"
"What did you plan?" Killua asks with amusement.
Nanika hides her face, but Alluka emerges to grin mischievously.
"To be twins."
Illumi chokes. "What?"
"Nanika likes material people. She fits in with us, not the Ai," Alluka explains.
Nanika glances nervously at Illumi. "Is that…bad?"
Hisoka pokes his husband.
"No," Illumi says, and to his surprise, he means it. "That is very, very good."
"Okay!"
Nanika steps up to a large Ai who drifts towards her. It reaches towards her, and then – suddenly – she's emblazoned in neon swirls and colors, and everyone is silent, waiting to see who emerges.
A child, dressed and looking very much like Alluka, but with her characteristic black eyes and mouth, sits on the deck.
"Nanika!" Alluka hugs her. "At last!"
Nanika laughs. She's never felt joy so right.
She's human. She's really, really human. She has her own body. Her own skin. Her own hair. And Alluka's fashion, because it's cute.
"I have two sisters now," Kalluto says in amazement. He rushes to join Killua, who is already embracing the twins.
"We love Killua and Kalluto!" Nanika squeezes her brothers, before turning to Illumi.
"And Illumi, and Hisoka." Alluka holds out her hand.
Hisoka feels his heart hurt – fuck, are these feelings? Is he happy? He's actually happy?
Illumi is too stunned to move, so Feitan and Machi shove him forward.
The sun sinks below the horizon, and here, watching his friends' joy, with the frightening but beautiful possibility of life before him, Kurapika feels he's found something more precious than Scarlet Eyes.
"Now, husband, before we sail tomorrow, we're here with a comfortable bed and victory in our hands," Hisoka pulls Illumi into his captain's quarters. He breathes in Illumi's musty, salty scent.
Illumi laughs.
Illumi – laughing. And not that fake, anxiety-riddled 'haw-haw-haw' he usually gives. He's laughing with happiness.
Hisoka has never heard this, and he's not sure Illumi has, either.
He locks the door behind them and wraps his arms around Illumi's slender chest.
"I'm glad you're whole again," Illumi says, nudging Hisoka's foot with his own.
"Oh? Get ready," Hisoka teases, nibbling Illumi's neck.
Illumi shudders at the pleasant sensation of Hisoka's teeth on him. He arches his neck instinctually.
Hisoka feels a firebolt shoot through him. Just at the sight of Illumi happy.
Is he, Hisoka, happy? Has he ever been?
No, he decides, sinking his teeth into Illumi. But maybe someday he will be.
Hisoka lays Illumi across the bed like he's a treasure, and perhaps he is. It's high time someone treated Illumi well, after all.
"Hisoka," Illumi whimpers, already enraptured.
A knock at their door barely bothers him.
"Damn," Hisoka says. Illumi's pants are in his mouth.
Illumi pulls his pants back up and opens the door, like a proper adult. Nothing is wrong; for once, everything is perfect, and he is loved, and everyone is loved, and he wants to feel this way forever. "Killua?"
"Nanika and Alluka want a bedtime story," Killua says, his eyes flitting to and fro to evade Hisoka and their messy bed.
"A story?" Illumi hasn't told bedtime stories in a long, long time. Usually they incorporated some kind of battle attack, or surreptitious information about nen.
He briefly wonders if Killua's lightning was inspired by his thunder story.
"Yours used to be pretty good." Killua smirks as he walks away, and Illumi realizes the answer must be yes.
Illumi is torn. "Just a second."
"Go on, Illumi. I'll be waiting." Hisoka winks. Until they return from the Continent, Illumi is his one mission. Hisoka is not a patient man, but he can be patient to enhance Illumi's pleasure.
After this, their next mission will be to discover what Beyond seems to know about Nanika. But that can wait, Hisoka thinks as he flops back onto his bed.
"Even if there are no good people, you are one," Chrollo says whimsically, reaching over to brush his knuckles against Kurapika's cheek.
Kurapika laughs. He sounds lighter than he has in years. Like bells. "Maybe we're all good. Flailing about and losing our way to be good."
They lie in Chrollo's room, in the same room they first made love. Although this time they sprawl across the floor.
Kurapika had barely entered the room before he'd opened his mouth to ask why, to demand why Chrollo would waste a wish on him. To ask why, in that moment, Chrollo was purely good to someone who didn't deserve it.
And Chrollo had met him with that shy smile, and undressed Kurapika right there. They'd only begun to speak once their muscles were soaring with release, their hair tangled and their skin messy with sweat and fluids.
"Murdering your clan, the auction…many of those actions had nothing good in them." Chrollo wonders.
He did wish to strike back at the mafia who so extorted Meteor City. Was that good? Was a quest for beauty enough against the screams of mangled families?
Was he good, and his actions dark and hopelessly diseased?
Or, more likely, is he dark and hopelessly sinful, and perhaps reaching back for ablution.
Why? He asks himself. Why did he slaughter all the Kurtas? How could eyes have captured him until he extincted them?
"I don't know who I am," he concludes.
Kurapika cocks his head.
"I'm scared," Chrollo says at length. "I'm scared to find myself, because I don't know what I'll find."
"I think I do." Kurapika's hand grips Chrollo's knee. "I think that you – and I – are the same as Morena Prudo. We're just thieves trying to atone for the sin of being born outcasts. And now, to atone for our atonement."
"Morena didn't achieve hers," Chrollo muses.
"No, but still, I saw myself in her. She wanted to destroy the family who hurt her, and so did I. And Nasubi was cruel, and so were the Spiders, and they were wrong. You were wrong. And yet…so was I, and so was Morena. vengeance against people hasn't really helped. I felt empty after killing Uvogin, and I felt worse when I failed to kill you." Kurapika pushes back a strand of hair. His face is pink, and he can't quite meet Chrollo's eyes.
"But in the end – even though she was too deep to forsake her plan – she wished Oito well. And vengeance did not have the day. And it was better that way." Kurapika swallows the lump growing in his throat. "That gives me hope. For me, and for you."
"I wasn't nearly the outcast a Kurta and a bastard were," Chrollo counters.
"Meteor City is its own scar, isn't it?" Kurapika looks at him, and he sees him, he really sees Chrollo and through Chrollo and Chrollo distilled to his purest essence.
And it's terrifying, and beautiful, and Chrollo realizes that they're going to be discussing this – their history – for a long time to come. Perhaps the only path forward is though the past.
He's okay with that.
"Don't give up on me," Chrollo says.
"Never." Kurapika smiles impishly. "Did you not see me hesitate to use Chain Jail to save Alluka? It's a start, and it's all you."
"Oh, a hesitation," Chollo says sarcastically.
"I said it was a start." Kurapika makes a face.
Chrollo tickles him briefly. "It's not all me. You have good friends, too."
"So do you."
Chrollo's eyes soften – Kurapika's response is immediate. It is true. The Chain Dude no longer views the spiders with hate, or discomfort. Just as if they are other humans faltering through life.
"I'm surprised you didn't wish for me not to use Chain Jail," Kurapika says with a shake of his head. Is that self-centered? He knows Chrollo has much to wish for.
"I wasn't sure you could couple wishes together. And I…want to leave the choice – the choice to stay alive, the choice not to sacrifice yourself upon some proclaimed altar of vengeance – to you." Chrollo meets his eyes. "I can give you back the years you've stolen, but you deserve to choose to live."
Red bleeds into Kurapika's eyes. "So do you."
"Good night, Alluka, Nanika, Killua, and Kalluto. And Gon." Illumi waves to his siblings.
They all let him kiss their foreheads. Well, except Gon, but then Gon is a 'surrogate sibling,' not a real one.
But still! They let him kiss their foreheads! Delight sparkles through his body.
He turns back to the cabin he shares with Hisoka. He can experience not only two months of familial love, but marital bliss while they return to Kakin.
Like a honeymoon. Which is kind of like the vacation Milluki spoke of. The vacation Illumi forced himself to scoff at.
Illumi smiles to himself. He feels different, and he – he likes this change.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spies a flash to the side of the ship facing the sea.
Illumi peers over the rail. Is there lightning? He can send a text to Killua. An inside joke, the kind of joke he's never shared in before.
"Illumi-kun."
Illumi turns around to see Silva, Zeno, and a flying ship with the face of Tsubone.
